Methods and Compositions of Insect Control

ABSTRACT

The invention describes recombinant DNA sequences transcribed into RNA constructs capable of forming Virus Like Particles (VLPs) suitable for insect control applications. Specifically, the disclosure provides a method for controlling target insects comprising, transforming a microbial host with a first DNA sequence comprising a gene encoding a bacteriophage capsid protein and a second DNA sequence encoding an RNA transcript comprising at least one bacteriophage pac sequence coupled to an RNAi precursor sequence, inducing the microbial host to express the first and second DNA sequences, isolating virus-like-particles (VLPs) comprising the capsid protein and RNAi precursor from the microbial host, and contacting the isolated VLPs with the target insects.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 62/273,654, filed Dec. 31, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

INCORPORATION OF SEQUENCE LISTING

The entire contents of a paper copy of the “Sequence Listing” and a computer readable form of the sequence listing entitled Insect_Control_Sequence_Listing ST25.txt, which is 27 kilobytes in size and was created on Dec. 7, 2016, are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises methods and compositions relating to virus-like particles (VLPs) containing heterologous cargo molecules capable of generating an RNAi-mediated gene suppression effect on targeted insects. Such compositions and methods have application in crop protection and other aspects of insect control.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

RNAi-mediated gene suppression, first described in the nematode C. elegans, has been shown to be an effective method for modulating gene expression in many other organisms. Fire, et al., Potent and specific genetic interference by double-stranded RNA in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature 391:806 (1998). The role of RNAi in controlling proliferation of insects affecting crops has been demonstrated using double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) by a number of research groups. Reviewed in, Ivashuta, et al. Environmental RNAi in herbivorous insects. RNA 21:840 (2015). Recombinant RNA constructs used for RNAi purposes described in the prior art generally consist of dsRNAs of about 18 to about 25 base pairs (siRNAs), but also include longer dsRNAs (long dsRNAs) usually between about 100 to about 1,000 base pairs (bp). To successfully introduce dsRNA into insects, dsRNAs longer than or equal to approximately 60 bp are required for efficient uptake when supplied in the insect's diet. Bolognesi, et al. Ultrastructural Changes Caused by Snf7 RNAi in Larval Enterocytes of Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte) PLoS One 7:e47534 (2012). Long dsRNA molecules are cleaved in-vivo into a diverse population of siRNAs by the host's Dicer enzyme complex. Alternatively, RNAi gene suppression can also occur through the action of anti-sense RNAs directed to specific sequences via related processes. Practical application of RNAi methods for controlling insects in the field is limited by the cost of in vitro RNA synthesis and the chemical fragility of RNA, even dsRNAs, to environmental and enzymatic degradation.

Bacteriophage MS2 capsid mediated delivery of toxins and imaging agents to human cancer cells has been shown to be an effective method for delivering such agents to eukaryotic cells in vitro. Ashley, et al., Cell-specific delivery of diverse cargos by bacteriophage MS2 virus-like particles. ACS nano 5:5729 (2011). Whether such bacteriophage capsids can serve a similar function for delivery of RNAi precursors to insects in the field is unknown. Effective delivery of RNAi precursors into target insects requires preventing non-specific RNA degradation, a facile route of administration, and the ability to release the RNAi precursors at the appropriate point within the target insect such that the RNAi precursors can be taken up by the insect cells and properly processed. Ideally, the RNAi precursor and delivery system must be economical and relatively simple to produce and distribute. The inventions described here satisfy all these criteria and have the added benefit of allowing rapid discovery, prototyping and commercial-scale production of new RNAi molecules.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described here uses the unique properties of VLPs, (alternatively known as APSE RNA Containers, or “ARCs”), to provide an improved system for delivering long dsRNA and RNAi precursors (dsRNAi) which can be processed intra-cellularly to produce siRNA for suppressing expression of a target gene, preferably in an insect host, more preferably a Coleopteran or Lepidopteran insect pest. Of particular interest are Coleoptera such as bark beetle, elm leaf beetle, Asian longhorn beetle, death watch beetle, mountain pine beetle, coconut hispine beetle, the various corn rootworms and the Colorado potato beetle. RNAi methods of controlling Colorado potato beetle are especially desired since these beetles have developed resistance to virtually all known insecticides.

Coleopteran insect pests are known to be susceptible to RNAi introduced via the gut, either by direct injection or by feeding on plant matter treated with RNAi precursors. Field application of naked RNAs is generally impractical due to the sensitivity of RNA to environmental specific and non-specific degradation. Furthermore, RNA is highly susceptible to degradation during the course of feeding and in transit through the insect gut. The highly stable form of VLPs serves to protect RNA borne within the VLPs in vitro. The question remains, are VLPs capable of effectively delivering RNAi precursors to the RNAi processing pathways, such as Dicer, of target insects? In particular, can VLPs protect RNAi precursors within the insect digestive tract and still deliver the intact RNAi precursor to the RNAi processing pathway of the target insect? The results presented here indicate that VLPs are extremely effective at delivering RNAi precursors into target insects.

An important advantage of producing RNAi precursors by the methods described here is that costly and complicated in vitro synthesis of RNA precursors is avoided and the desired RNA constructs can be produced by simple and economic fermentation methods. Production and purification of large quantities of RNAi precursors is facilitated by optionally coupling synthesis of the desired polynucleotide with expression of self-assembling bacteriophage capsid proteins, such as those of bacteriophage Qβ or MS2 to produce easily purified and relatively stable ARCs (VLPs), which may be applied directly to plant surfaces upon which the targeted insect pests feed, for example by spraying.

Once ingested, the ARCs may be digested in the course of transiting the insect host gut and the RNA molecules absorbed by cells lining the gut. Within the target insect cells the RNAi precursors are processed by, among other things, the host Dicer enzyme complex to generate effective RNAi forms targeted against host gene transcripts to suppress expression of essential host genes. Examples of such essential genes include, without limitation, genes involved in controlling molting or other larval development events, actin or other cellular structural components, as well as virtually any gene related to replication, transcription or translation or other fundamental process required for viability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises DNA sequences, which when transcribed produce RNAi precursor molecules and mRNA translated into bacteriophage coat protein, which together, are incorporated into uniquely stable VLPs. The VLPs may be purified in a form suitable for ingestion by feeding insects. Once ingested by the target insects, the VLPs transit the gut where they are then assimilated into the insect cells where the RNAi precursor is processed into a form of RNAi that suppresses expression of a target gene important to insect viability. In some embodiments, suppression of such target genes is designed to result in death of the target insect. In another embodiment suppression of target genes is designed to produce sterile off-spring. A key feature of the VLPs is that they are stable enough to protect the encapsidated RNAi precursors from degradation by non-specific environmental agents or by insect target cell RNAse enzymes, but remain capable of introducing the RNAi precursors into the RNAi pathways in target insect cells after they are ingested.

Example sequences presented here are designed to be ligated into suitable bacterial plasmid vectors as AsiSI-NotI digested DNA fragments. Such DNA sequence fragments can be produced by direct synthesis or by sub-cloning the constituent fragments using techniques well known to those skilled in the art. The specific sequences may be modified as desired to manipulate specific restriction enzyme sites, incorporate alternative ribozyme binding sites, accommodate alternative bacteriophage pac sequences and the specificity of the RNAi sequences may be modified to target different genes and insect hosts. Bacterial plasmid vectors containing transcriptional promoters capable of inducibly transcribing these DNA sequences include without limitation, bacteriophage T7 gene 1 promoter, bacteriophage T5 promoter and the bacteriophage lambda P_(L) and P_(R) promoters. Bacterial plasmid vectors may also contain the bacteriophage Qβ or bacteriophage MS2 capsid protein coding sequence expressed from an inducible promoter. Alternatively, such inducibly expressed capsid proteins may be present on a separate bacterial plasmid compatible with the bacterial plasmid carrying the inducible cargo RNA sequences.

The production and purification of VLPs containing RNA cargo molecules and recovery of the RNA cargo molecules are described in detail in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2013/0208221 (at least paragraphs 0013 and 0014), 2014/0302593 (at least paragraphs 0016, 0052, 0065 and 0085-0086) and as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,181,531 (passim), the contents of each incorporated herein by reference. In addition, related methods are also described in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2010/0167981 and 2012/0046340, PCT/US2012/071419 and PCT/US2014/041111, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,443,969, and 6,214,982, the contents of each are also incorporated herein by reference. The VLPs produced by these methods can be processed in a number of different ways known to those skilled in the art to facilitate application of such material onto plants and for use in the field. In one embodiment the purified ARCs are further processed for spraying operations. Such processing may include spray drying, introduction of stabilizing or wetting agents or forming an admixture of VLPs with other desired agents prior to application. Field applications may involve ground or arial spray methods or spot application.

A person skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be targeted to different genes in different insect hosts by modifying the sequences from those described in the Examples to reflect the sequences of the targeted genes in the targeted host organisms. Thus, the invention provides those skilled in the art with a tool for determining the best RNAi target for suppressing a particular gene in any given host cell and a means for producing large quantities of such RNAis. Further, the invention provides for methods of empirically determining which gene or group of genes may constitute the most effective RNAi target within a single insect or group of insects by screening the effectiveness of VLPs containing various RNAi precursors targeted to specific genes or gene combinations in such insects by combinatory cloning methods. The invention also supports methods combining VLPs effective for control of certain insects in the field with different VLPs effective for control of other insects at the point of application, in order to tailor the insect control properties to those relevant at the point of application. The different insects may be of a different order, genus or species as those targeted by the original VLPs, or may comprise RNAi resistant, or combinations of RNAi resistant populations, wherein the combination of one or more VLPs targeting different genes within the target insect population ensures that no combination of RNAi resistance is likely to occur.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a first DNA sequence within a bacterial host is transcribed to produce a first RNA molecule encoding a bacteriophage coat protein, and a second DNA sequence within said bacterial host is transcribed to produce a second RNA molecule comprising a bacteriophage pac site, followed by an antisense sequence of a target gene from an insect, followed by a unique RNA sequence capable of forming a single-stranded loop, followed by a sense sequence complementary to the antisense sequence of the target gene sequence, followed by a second bacteriophage pac site. The first RNA molecule is an mRNA which is translated by the bacterial host to produce a plurality of bacteriophage coat protein which, in combination with the second RNA molecule comprising the bacteriophage pac sequences, spontaneously forms a VLP, wherein the second RNA molecule is packaged within the VLP. VLPs are isolated and purified prior to application to the outer surfaces of a plant. Target insects feeding upon the plant ingest the VLP which in turn introduces the RNA molecule borne within the VLP into the host insect cells where it is processed by the host insect cell's endogenous RNAi pathways, resulting in RNAi-mediated suppression of gene expression of the host insect target gene. In one embodiment the insect is of the order Coleoptera. In preferred embodiments the Coleopteran insect is a Colorado potato beetle.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a first DNA sequence within a bacterial host is transcribed to produce a first RNA molecule encoding a bacteriophage coat protein, and a second DNA sequence within said bacterial host is transcribed to produce a second RNA molecule comprising a bacteriophage pac site, followed by an antisense sequence of a target gene from an insect, optionally followed by one or more bacteriophage pac sites. The first RNA molecule is an mRNA which is translated by the bacterial host to produce a plurality of bacteriophage coat protein which, in combination with the second RNA molecule comprising the bacteriophage pac sequences, spontaneously forms VLPs, wherein the second RNA molecule is packaged within the VLP. The VLPs are isolated and purified prior to application to the outer surfaces of a plant. Target insects feeding upon the plant ingest the VLP which in turn introduces the RNA molecule borne within the VLP into the host insect cells where it results in anti-sense RNA-mediated suppression of gene expression of the host insect target gene. In one embodiment the insect is of the order Coleoptera. In preferred embodiments the Coleopteran insect is a Colorado potato beetle.

In another embodiment, a series of host bacteria containing a first DNA sequence encoding a bacteriophage coat protein and different second DNA sequences encoding various RNAi sequences are isolated. Each isolated host bacteria is clonally expanded and bacterial cell line archived. A sample of each bacterial cell line is subsequently outgrown and induced to transcribe the first and second DNA sequences, the VLPS are allowed to assemble within the host bacteria and the VLPs isolated therefrom. The RNA sequences within the series of resulting VLPs each encode a different antisense and optionally a complementary sense sequence homologous to different insect target genes or on different regions of a given insect target gene or on target genes from different insect targets altogether. Each of the different VLPs produced by the series of host bacteria is fed to target insects and their ability to suppress host insect gene expression is measured, for example by scoring target insect mortality. Those VLPs producing the greatest level of RNAi-mediated suppression of gene expression represent the most effective RNA target for that particular target insect or position within a given target insect gene. Recourse to the corresponding bacterial cell line that produced each VLP allows quick identification of the corresponding target sequence or gene. Likewise, recourse to the corresponding host bacterial cell line facilitates rapid scale-up of the desired VLP for RNAi-mediated suppression of gene expression of the host insect target gene for field application or further experimental investigation. One skilled in the art will recognize that random or pseudo-random collections of complementary DNA sequences based on insect genomic sequence data or for subsets of such genomic sequence encoding likely essential genes can be screened using multiplex or automated cloning technologies.

The following Examples are illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as described in detail above and as set out in the appended claims.

EXAMPLE 1 Efficacy of Colorado Potato Beetle Control by VLPs Containing an RNAi Precursor

To determine whether VLPs containing a dsRNAi precursor targeting the (β-actin gene of Colorado potato beetle (another Coleopteran insect) can suppress β-actin expression as effectively as the naked dsRNAi precursor, the following study was carried out. A 294 bp fragment of beta actin from Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata strain Freeville actin mRNA, GenBank sequence ID: gbIKJ577616.1, nucleotides 1-294) was cloned into pAPSE10136 (SEQ ID NO: 1) in such a way as to produce a transcript with sequences comprising both corresponding sense and anti-sense strands separated by a short loop of non-homologous sequence. This RNA represents a 294 bp dsRNAi precursor targeted against beta actin. The dsRNAi precursor DNA sequence was produced by PCR amplification of the 294 bp region of interest from Colorado potato beetle chromosomal DNA using primers 1174 (SEQ ID NO: 2) and 1175 (SEQ ID NO: 3), the PCR product was ligated into an intermediate plasmid by digestion of the PCR fragment and vector with restriction endonucleases AsiSI and PmeI in the sense orientation relative to one of the vector encoded T7 gene 1 promoter. The loop and anti-sense sequences were produced from the sense-strand DNA fragment by PCR amplification with primers 1213 (SEQ ID NO: 4) and 1203 (SEQ ID NO: 5). The resulting PCR fragment and the intermediate plasmid were digested with PmeI and RsrII and ligated together. The desired recombinant plasmids encoding the (β-actin sense and antisense strand sequences connected by a short linker expressed from a T7 gene promoter were identified by restriction digest screening. The desired plasmid, pAPSE10216 (SEQ ID NO: 6) was transformed into chemically competent HTE115 (DE3) cells and individual clones selected for ampicillin resistant transformants.

Ampicillin resistant transformants were selected on LB agar plates containing 100 micrograms/ml ampicillin. The selected clones were subsequently grown at 37° C. in 100 ml of LB media containing ampicillin until the culture reached OD600 0.8, at which time isopropyl β-D-thiogalactopyranoside was added to a final concentration of 1 mM to induce T7 polymerase directed transcription of MS2 capsid protein and the 294 bp siRNA precursor. The induced cultures were allowed to grow for at least 4 hours post-induction to allow sufficient time for VLP formation. Cells were collected by centrifugation at 3,000 g at 4 C. Each pellet was stored at 4° C. until processing.

VLPs containing the 294 bp siRNA precursor were purified by re-suspending each pellet in approximately 10 volumes of 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.0, containing 10 mM NaCl and sonicated to lyse the cells. Cell debris was removed by centrifugation at 16,000 g. Each sample was further processed by addition of Benzonase® Nuclease (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.) added to a final concentration of about 100 units per mL and incubated at 37° C. for two hours. Proteinase K was then added to final concentration of 150 micrograms per mL and incubated at 37° C. for an additional three hours. A saturated ammonium sulfate solution was prepared by adding ammonium sulfate to water to a final concentration of 4.1 M. The saturated ammonium sulfate was added to the enzymatically treated VLPs to a final concentration of 186 mM (approximately a 1:22 dilution) and placed on ice for two hours. Unwanted precipitate was cleared from the lysate by centrifugation at 16,000 g. A second precipitation was conducted by addition of 155 mg of dry ammonium sulfate directly to each mL of cleared lysate. Each sample was vortexed and incubated on ice for two hours. Each precipitate was spun down at 16,000 g and the solid precipitate resuspended in one tenth the original volume of 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.0, containing 10 mM NaCl.

The resuspended VLPs were used to test the efficacy of encapsidated RNAi on Colorado potato beetle larvae relative to the corresponding naked RNAi. Each experimental and control cohort included 10 individual beetles undergoing 10 identical treatments. Each treatment or control sample was applied in 50 μl droplets to the surface of a 1 cm diameter potato leaf disc. Each time an application was made, a clean pipette tip was used. The treatment was allowed to dry on the leaf surface prior to being presented to the larvae. During a pretreatment period, all food was removed from the larval containers and larvae were starved for 2 hours before introduction of treated leaves to the larvae. After the starvation period, one larva was placed on each treated potato leaf in a petri dish, where it was allowed to feed on the disc until the leaf tissue was completely devoured. Larvae were allowed to feed at three separate times on treated potato leaves every two days, given a normal diet of potato leaves in the interim and monitored for mortality on a daily basis up to 21 days post treatment. After the final treatment, live larvae were maintained on untreated potato leaves for an additional 21 days.

Table 1 summarizes the results of treating Colorado potato beetle larvae with the test RNAi administered as naked RNA or encapsidated in an ARC, produced from pAPSE10216. In addition, VLPs containing random E. coli derived RNAs with no significant homology to the Colorado potato beetle beta-actin were included as a control of general non-specific VLP toxicity. These results indicate that these VLP encapsidated RNAs are as effective in killing Colorado potato beetle larvae by suppressing expression of the essential actin gene as unencapsidated RNAi:

TABLE I Summary of mortality rates for Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) larvae treated with RNA and VLP formulations. Days to reach Dose Maximum maximum Treatment (microgram) mortality (%) mortality Untreated control 0 20 15 Water control 0 20 16 VLPs with 0.5 30 19 unrelated dsRNA VLPs with dsRNAi 0.5 100 1 precursor dsRNAi precursor 0.5 100 1 without VLP

The naked dsRNA treated controls exhibit a high degree of mortality, consistent with the hypothesis that suppression of actin gene expression by this dsRNA results in death of beetle larvae that consume it. The cohort treated with VLPs containing the unrelated RNA exhibit little or no mortality, indicating that VLPs are not inherently toxic to the beetle larvae. The ARCs provide an effective delivery platform for RNAi active molecules and the high level of mortality verifies that the packaging and processing steps for manufacturing VLPs does not inhibit effectiveness of the RNAi response observed from such dsRNA.

Additional experiments at doses lower than 0.5 μg, e.g. at 0.05 μg, reveal that ARCs with actin hairpin RNA have similar efficacy at lower doses to naked dsRNA at higher doses targeting the same actin sequence.

The ability of these constructs to kill Colorado potato beetle larvae confirms that these ARCs are an effective tool for introducing targeted RNAi precursors into an insect host and that these precursors can be properly processed by the host cell RNAi pathway to suppress gene expression of the target gene. These results directly demonstrate that ARCs comprising siRNA precursors are an effective delivery system for controlling Colorado potato beetle and Coleopteran insects generally.

EXAMPLE 2 Efficacy of Controlling Colorado Potato Beetle Larvae by VLPs Containing Single Stranded Antisense RNA

To test whether anti-sense RNA (ssRNAi) can be effectively delivered to target insects by use of VLPs, a 294 bp DNA sequence fragment corresponding to a portion of the beta actin gene of Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata strain Freeville actin mRNA, GenBank sequence ID: gb|KJ577616.1, nucleotides 1-294) was constructed from primers 1176 (SEQ ID NO: 7) and 1177 (SEQ ID NO: 8). The primers were ordered from IDT (Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., Coralville, Iowa) and used to amplify the beta actin sequence fragment from Colorado potato beetle genomic DNA by Accuprime PCR while adding an AsiSI restriction site 5′ of the beta actin sequence fragment and a PmeI restriction site 3′ of the beta actin sequence fragment. The resulting PCR product was digested with AsiSI and PmeI restriction endonucleases and subsequently ligated into pAPSE10136 (SEQ ID NO: 1) previously treated with AsiSI and PmeI, in the anti-sense orientation relative to the upstream T7 promoter, to form pAPSE10190 (SEQ ID NO: 9). This plasmid allows the (β-actin antisense strand RNA (ssRNAi) to be packaged in VLPs at high efficiency by incorporating bacteriophage pac sites into the transcript. Chemically competent HTE115 (DE3) cells were transformed and VLPs were produced by fermentation and subsequently isolated as described in Example 2. The VLPs were then tested for the ability to suppress Colorado potato beetle larvae as described in Example 2. Table 2 summarizes the results:

TABLE 2 Summary of mortality rates of Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) larvae treated with single stranded anti-sense RNA and VLP formulations. Days to reach Dose Maximum maximum Treatment (microgram) mortality (%) mortality Untreated control 0 20 15 Water control 0 20 16 VLPs with no 0.5 30 19 ssRNAi VLPs with ssRNAi 0.5 100 1 ssRNAi without 0.5 100 8 VLP

These data indicate that VLPs improve the efficacy of single-stranded anti-sense RNA directed to suppressing expression of the essential beta-actin gene in killing Colorado potato beetle larvae. Further, these results indicate that these VLPs are even more effective in killing Colorado potato beetle larvae by suppressing expression of the essential actin gene than the corresponding unencapsidated RNAi. These results suggest that ARCs comprising antisense ssRNA also serve as an effective delivery system for controlling Coleopteran insects generally, and Colorado potato beetle specifically. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling target insects comprising, transforming a microbial host with a first DNA sequence comprising a gene encoding a bacteriophage capsid protein and a second DNA sequence encoding an RNA transcript comprising at least one bacteriophage pac sequence coupled to an RNAi precursor sequence, inducing the microbial host to express the first and second DNA sequences, isolating virus-like-particles (VLPs) comprising the capsid protein and RNAi precursor from the microbial host, and contacting the isolated VLPs with the target insects.
 2. The first DNA sequence of claim 1, wherein the bacteriophage capsid protein derives from a levivirus.
 3. The first DNA sequence of claim 2, wherein the levivirus is Qβ.
 4. The first DNA sequence of claim 2, wherein the levivirus is MS2.
 5. The second DNA sequence of claim 1, wherein the RNAi precursor forms an siRNA.
 6. The second DNA sequence of claim 1, wherein the RNAi precursor forms an antisense RNA.
 7. The microbial host of claim 1, wherein the first DNA sequence and second DNA sequence are on separate episomes.
 8. The microbial host of claim 1, wherein the first DNA sequence and the second DNA sequence are on the same episome.
 9. The microbial host of claim I, wherein one of the first DNA sequence and the second DNA sequence is integrated into the bacterial host chromosome.
 10. The microbial host of claim 1, wherein both the first DNA sequence and the second DNA sequence are integrated into the bacterial host chromosome.
 11. The microbial host of claim 1, wherein the microbial host is a bacterium.
 12. The bacterium of claim 11, wherein the bacterium is Escherichia coli.
 13. The microbial host of claim 1, wherein the microbial host is a yeast.
 14. The yeast of claim 13, wherein the yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
 15. The method of controlling target insects of claim 1, wherein the target insect comprises a Coleopteran insect.
 16. The Coleopteran insect of claim 15 wherein the target insect comprises Colorado potato beetle. 